Computations for cost of fertilization of container-grown woody
ornamentals are lengthy, cumbersome, and require several conversion

factors. Consequently these computations are often not performed.
FERTCOST, as outlined in Figure 1, was developed to calculate yearly
fertilization cost for a specific size of container plant receiving

fertilizer by one or combinations of the following methods of
application: broadcasting dry fertilizer, top-dressing dry
fertilizer, incorporating dry fertilizer into the growth medium,
and/or injecting water soluble fertilizer in the irrigation water.

The calculated costs are based on the same plant of a specific
container size. Therefore, another plant of the same container
size, but in a different location of the nursery, may have different
fertilization costs because that plant receives fertilizer by a
different methods) of application. The program is written in

If you wish to view the credits and a brief
description of this program, simply type in the

letter C and press . If you want to start the

program, just press .

After credits and abstract have been viewed or skipped, the
following information will be needed for data input.

A. BROADCAST dry fertilizer

1. Brand of fertilizer you are applying.

2. Analysis or grade (example 8-8-8) of the fertilizer. This

is the percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide

(P205), and potassium oxide (K20) in the fertilizer.
3. Size rating (in gallons) of container you are fertilizing

and container diameter and height.
4. Number of containers per acre.

5. Fertilizer application rate as pounds of nitrogen,

phosphorus pentoxide (P205), potassium oxide (K20), or
fertilizer per acre.
6. Number of times per year the fertilizer in 1 and 2 above

is applied.

7. Time required for 1 worker to fertilize 1 acre of

containers as specified in 3 and 4 above, with 1

application.

8. Wages paid per hour per worker for fertilization.

9. Cost per ton or pound of fertilizer specified in 1 and 2

above.

B. INCORPORATED The following must be obtained whether

fertilizer is incorporated by a dealer or at the nursery.

1. Brand of fertilizer you are applying.

2. Analysis or grade (example 8-8-8) of the fertilizer. This

is the percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide

(P205), and potassium oxide (K20) in the fertilizer.
3. Size rating (in gallons) of container you are fertilizing

and container diameter and height. Calculations are based

on total container volume. Volume occupied by an original

container is not taken into account if plant was moved up to

a larger container size.

4. Amount of fertilizer specified in 1 and 2 above that is

incorporated in 1 cubic yard of growth medium.

5. Time required for 1 worker to incorporate fertilizer in 1

cubic yard of growth medium.

6. Wages paid per hour per worker for fertilizer

incorporation.

7. Cost per ton or pound of fertilizer specified in 1 and 2

above.

C. INJECTION

1. Brand of fertilizer you are applying.
2. Analysis or grade (example 8-8-8) of the fertilizer. This

is the percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide

(P205), and potassium oxide (K20) in the fertilizer.
3. Size rating (in gallons) of container you are fertilizing

and container diameter and height.
4. Number of containers per acre.
5. Fertilizer application rate as either pounds of fertilizer

per acre; pounds of fertilizer per gallon of water; pounds
of nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide (P205), or potassium
oxide (K20) per acre; gallons of fertilizer per acre; or

parts per million (ppm) nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or
potassium (K). If application rate is given in pounds per
gallon of irrigation water or ppm, then you must know how
much water is applied per irrigation (inches or gallons
per container or acre).
6. Number of times per year the fertilizer in 1 and 2 above

is applied.
7. Drip or trickle irrigation use.
8. Time required for 1 worker to fertilize 1 acre of

containers as specified in 3 and 4 above, with 1
application.
9. Wages paid per hour per worker for fertilization.

10. Cost per ton or pound of fertilizer specified in 1 and 2
above.

D. TOP-DRESS dry fertilizer
1. Brand of fertilizer you are applying.

2. Analysis or grade (example 8-8-8) of the fertilizer. This

is the percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide

(P205) and potassium oxide (K20) in the fertilizer.
3. Size rating (in gallons) of container you are fertilizing

and container diameter and height.

4. Fertilizer application rate as teaspoons, tablespoons,

grams, or pounds of fertilizer per container.

5. Number of times per year the fertilizer in 1 and 2 above

is applied.

6. Number of containers specified in 3 above that are

fertilized in 1 hour by 1 worker, with 1 application.

7. Wages paid per hour per worker for fertilization.

8. Cost per ton or pound of fertilizer specified in 1 and 2

above.

After making the appropriate inputs, a summary of fertilizer

and labor costs is provided for a single plant of a specified

container size and receiving fertilizer(s) by one or more methods

of application.

SAMPLE RUN

Letters or numbers in quotes are entered by the user. Quotes

are not entered. Phrases in boxes are viewed on screen.

These are the methods of fertilization available:

1. BROADCAST DRY

2. INCORPORATED

3. INJECTION

4. TOP-DRESS

Choose one of the four methods listed above. "1"

Listed above are the methods of fertilizer application that are

used in this program.

1. Broadcast dry is selected when dry fertilizers are broadcast

over plants or containers.

2. Incorporated is selected when dry fertilizers are mixed into

the growth medium.

3. Injection is selected when dry or solution fertilizers are

applied in irrigation water.

4. Top-dress is selected when a specified amount of dry fertilizer

is delivered to the growth medium surface of each container.

1. BROADCAST DRY The following inputs as outlined above will

be used for the sample run.

1. GROWMORE 6. 2 11. 4

2. 8-8-8 7. 50 12. A

3. 1 8. 2 13. 100

4. Y 9. A 14. Y

5. 35000 10. 30 15. N

1. What brand of fertilizer are you broadcasting?

"GROWMORE"

2. What is the analysis or grade of the fertilizer you are

broadcasting?

Enter the analysis (press return after each number).

"8"-

8 -"8"-
8 8 -"8"

The first number is percent nitrogen (N), the second percent
phosphorus pentoxide (P205), and the third potassium oxide (K20).

3. What size (in gallons) container are you fertilizing?
"1" gallon

4. The container top diameter used for calculations will be 6
inches and the container height will be 6.5 inches.

10. How many minutes of labor does it take to fertilize one
acre of your 1 gallon containers when broadcasting?
"30" minutes/acre

Units for labor were selected in question 9. You should

include loading, mixing, or other time associated with the
broadcasting operation; however, be consistent when making
comparisons. Minutes of labor to fertilize 1 acre are based on 1
worker or figured on a per worker basis for 1 application.

Labor costs: $4.00 per hour $0.000289 per container per year
30.0 minutes/acre

4. TOP-DRESS The following inputs as outlined

for the sample run.

1. SUPERFERT 5. 3 9.

2. 7-7-7 6. 6 10.

3. 1

4. Y

7. 2

8. 2000

11.

12.

above will be used

4

A

2000

N

1. What brand of fertilizer are you top-dressing?

"SUPERFERT"

2. What is the analysis or grade of the fertilizer you are

top-dressing? Enter the analysis (press return after each

number).

"7"
7 "7"

7 7 117"

3. What size (in gallons) container are you fertilizing?
"1" gallon

4. The container top diameter used for calculations will

be 6 inches, and the container height will be 6.5 inches.
Enter Y if these are acceptable or N to choose other

dimensions.

"Y" (Y/N)

If N had been entered, the following would be displayed.

Enter the top diameter of your 1 gallon container.

"7" inches

A container top diameter of 7 inches would be used in the

calculations.

Enter the height of your 1 gallon container.

"8" inches

A container height of 8 inches would be used in the

calculations.

5. Select units for application rate.

1. teaspoons
2. tablespoons

3. grams
4. pounds
"3" (1-4)

The quantity of fertilizer applied per 1 gallon container is 6

grams. Thus, grams were selected in question 5 and 6 entered for

question 6. If 1 was entered in question 5, the following would
be displayed.

How many teaspoons are applied per application to the 1
gallon container?

"1" teaspoon/container

The computer would search internal files to locate brand

entered in question 1 and the weight of fertilizer applied per
application to the 1 gallon container would be displayed as follows.

The weight of SUPERFERT applied per application to each
container is 7.5 grams (0.01651 pounds). If this is

acceptable, enter Y. Enter N to specify the weight.

"N" (Y/N)

If you did not agree with this weight, enter N. The following
would be displayed.

Select units for the weight of SUPERFERT applied to the 1

gallon container.
A. grams per container

B. pounds per container

"A" (A,B)

Enter the weight of SUPERFERT applied per application to
the 1 gallon container.
"7" grams/container

Units were selected in previous question. A weight of 7 grams
of SUPERFERT per application to the I gallon container would now
be used for fertilizer cost calculations.

In question 5, grams were chosen so the preceding questions

were not displayed. The number of grams applied is entered in
question 6.

6. How many grams are applied per application to the 1 gallon
container?
"6" grams/container

7. How many times in one year is SUPERFERT applied to the 1
gallon container when top-dressing?
"2" applications/year

8. How many containers are top-dressed in one hour?
"2000" containers/hour

You should include loading, mixing, or other time associated
with top-dressing when determining number of containers
top-dressed per hour; however, be consistent when making
comparisons. Number of containers top-dressed in 1 hour is based
on 1 worker or figured on a per worker basis per application.

Trade names and companies are mentioned with the understanding that
no discrimination is intended nor endorsement implied by the
University of Florida.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, K.R. Tefertiller,
director, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and
June 30, 1914 Acts of Congress; and Is authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institu. l U
tions that.function without regard to race, color, sex or national origin. Single copies of Extension publications (excluding 4-H and Youth publica-
tions) are available free to Florida residents from County Extension Offices. Information on bulk rates or copies for out-of-state purchasers is ""="='
available from C.M. Hinton, Publications Distribution Center, IFAS Building 664, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611. Before publicizing this publication,
editors should contact this address to determine availability.